User Login
Adam Prokosch's ideas on what I may write on.
Background
Billy Bud
Billy Bud previously was on a merchant ship named “rights of man.” Billy’s former captain called him the jewel of the ship. Melville dedicates nearly seven chapters to the description of Billy buds good appearance and temperament. Billy bud is well liked by most of the crew. He has a speech impediment so when he gets nerves he stutters or freezes up altogether.
Captain
The captain is also described in great detail. He is a quiet well read person. He seems fair in judgments.
Two sides of the story
On one side is Billy Bud who had never conspired to mutiny. Even when approached by some other men who were unhappy about being taken aboard the vessel against there will, Billy would not join them. Billy was the victim of another character trying to “bring him down” for unknown reasons.
On the other side when Billy was confronted in the captains cabin by this accuser he did not verbally defend him self. Instead he struck his accuser and killed him. Since his accuser was a superior officer this in itself is considered mutiny.
Paper idea
I’m not sure yet what I’m going to write about. But the thing that interest me the most is the moral struggle that the captain went through. I have put much thought into if the captain made the right or wrong decision by hanging Billy. But after all that thought I have come to the conclusion that it isn’t a matter of right or wrong at all. The captain acted exactly as he was supposed to according the navy at that time. Any attempt to bend from the law would have most likely resulted in the hanging of the captain as well. It was very powerful when Billy Bud said long live the captain for his last words.
I see Billy Bud as a conflict between law and being human. The fact that Billy was executed for something that he didn’t mean to do does not sit well with me. Hypothetically, if the decision was put to the crew he would have never been hung. There was not a single person on that boat that wanted to see Billy die. Obviously a vote from the crew is impossible because that would empower the crew and this would undermine the superiors ability to oppress its crew.
Billy Bud
Billy Bud previously was on a merchant ship named “rights of man.” Billy’s former captain called him the jewel of the ship. Melville dedicates nearly seven chapters to the description of Billy buds good appearance and temperament. Billy bud is well liked by most of the crew. He has a speech impediment so when he gets nerves he stutters or freezes up altogether.
Captain
The captain is also described in great detail. He is a quiet well read person. He seems fair in judgments.
Two sides of the story
On one side is Billy Bud who had never conspired to mutiny. Even when approached by some other men who were unhappy about being taken aboard the vessel against there will, Billy would not join them. Billy was the victim of another character trying to “bring him down” for unknown reasons.
On the other side when Billy was confronted in the captains cabin by this accuser he did not verbally defend him self. Instead he struck his accuser and killed him. Since his accuser was a superior officer this in itself is considered mutiny.
Paper idea
I’m not sure yet what I’m going to write about. But the thing that interest me the most is the moral struggle that the captain went through. I have put much thought into if the captain made the right or wrong decision by hanging Billy. But after all that thought I have come to the conclusion that it isn’t a matter of right or wrong at all. The captain acted exactly as he was supposed to according the navy at that time. Any attempt to bend from the law would have most likely resulted in the hanging of the captain as well. It was very powerful when Billy Bud said long live the captain for his last words.
I see Billy Bud as a conflict between law and being human. The fact that Billy was executed for something that he didn’t mean to do does not sit well with me. Hypothetically, if the decision was put to the crew he would have never been hung. There was not a single person on that boat that wanted to see Billy die. Obviously a vote from the crew is impossible because that would empower the crew and this would undermine the superiors ability to oppress its crew.
